Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, wrote to the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Director of National Intelligence regarding the unveiling of a new road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by North Korea.
“Of deep concern…are allegations that the missile…is based on Chinese technology, in violation of international obligations and a threat to the national security interest of the United States,” wrote Turner.
In March of this year, the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command testified before the House Armed Services Committee that, “there is development within North Korea of a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system that we’ve observed.” Before he left the Pentagon, Secretary Gates issued a similar warning in 2011.
Echoing these concerns, Mr. Richard Fisher, a leading specialist in Chinese military technology, wrote to Turner in a letter noting that “the 16-wheel transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) for this new missile is very likely based on a Chinese design. There is even the possibility that it is manufactured in China for North Korea’s use.”
“The prospect of Chinese support for this program, which ‘would require approval from the highest levels of China’s government and from the People’s Liberation Army’, means that China is enabling North Korea to deploy ICBMs that could be tipped with nuclear warheads aimed at the United States. Such cooperation therefore poses a direct threat to the security of the American people,” added Turner.
NOTE: The letter to Secretary Clinton and Director Clapper can be found here. The letter from Mr. Fisher can be found here.
Attached photos can be found here.